Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 14:46:30 +0800
From: Joel Ng <jngkj-AT-mbox2.singnet.com.sg>
Subject: Re: Armies and stuff


Janskrit Virdee wrote:

> I'd quite like to hear from people who are in or have been in the armed forces
> that hold anarchist beliefs.  My father was in the armed forces for a good
> part of his life.
> He's a good guy, but from talking to him I think his control freak mentality
> stems a great deal from his military life.
> I'd really like to know from anarchists who are/have been in the army how they
> arrived at their current beliefs.

Firstly, I considered myself an anarchist before I joined the army.  Heck, I've
been on this list since before I was in the army.  Secondly it was mandatory -
small countries often have "National Service" which basically means join the army
or spend 2 years in prison here in S'pore.  My experience with regulars (people
who actually *want* in on the army), is this:  They're either in it for the money
or the power.  Their time in service generally reinforces these desires.  Of
course, it generally leads them to be attracted to the latter.  The one thing the
army pounded into me every day was that life is unfair.  And I think that's
grounds enough to make a good anarchist.

I think there are an unusually high number of ex-armed forces types on this list,
as a matter of fact.  Maybe that says something for itself.